SMS 430 - Microbes in the Marine Environment

This course examines the molecular building blocks of cells, structure and function of cells (Bacteria, Archaea, and eukaryotes) and cellular metabolism in the context of the marine environment, with a primary focus on microbes. Viruses and their role in evolution of microbes and nutrient cycling in the ocean are discussed. Basic molecular information is integrated into understanding evolutionary processes and mechanism of microbial interaction with higher organisms, symbiotic and pathogenic in the marine environment. Microbes in extreme environments are explored to demonstrate how molecular and cellular adaptations play out in different marine environments. Biochemical and microbial processes that are critical to the maintenance and function of the biosphere are examined, with examples from marine environments. Overall, students in this course will learn how to ingrate across different spatial scales, from molecules to ecosystems, and approaches, from cellular biology to evolution. If this course was taken as a topics course in SMS 491, it cannot be repeated for credit.

Core Curriculum/Core Requirements:

Prerequisites: Junior Standing and BIO 100 and CHY 121

Course Typically Offered: Spring

Credits: 3